Europe’s leading football clubs "are pushing for radical changes" to the UEFA Champions League "in an effort to secure more revenues in response to the financial dominance of the English Premier League," according to Murad Ahmed of the FINANCIAL TIMES. Sources said that clubs, particularly in Spain and Italy, "are pushing for format changes that would involve more matches between heavyweight teams." They argue this could prove "more lucrative in terms new commercial and media rights, as well as increases in match day revenues."
However, there is growing "discord over what shape the transformation should take, with some objecting to major alterations to a tournament that has provided a financial lifeline to smaller football nations."
One of the main drivers for change "is the wealth of the English Premier League." Next year, all 20 clubs will earn at least £100M ($146M) from its £5.1B ($7.5B) broadcasting deal with Sky and BT. According to Deloitte, only three teams outside England -- Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus -- earned more than £100M in broadcasting revenues in the '13-14 season.
Clubs across Europe "may fall further behind" following the upcoming auction of the broadcasting rights for Germany’s Bundesliga for four seasons starting in '17. Ampere Analysis predicts the German auction will achieve €3.6B-€4.4B ($5.2B-$6.4B). These shifting finances "are driving a push among some clubs for a change in format of the Champions League" in time for the '18-19 season, when a new three-year deal to screen matches will begin. A person close to the negotiations said, “Everything is on the table." Among the proposals to be floated "is an early knockout round, with 16 seeded teams playing against the other 16 sides." Another proposal is for a “wild card” entry for clubs that have "performed well in previous tournaments gaining entry in future years." Smaller nations also "object to proposals that may result in their teams being regularly eliminated at an early stage." Scottish FA CEO Stewart Regan: "We are keen to protect the status quo for the smaller countries who can earn substantial revenues through European football" (FT, 5/27).
